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HOSEA CHEUNG, QMI Agency

Jul 25, 2011

, Last Updated: 8:46 PM ET

VANCOUVER - Korey Banks doing damage control to start off the week.

The B.C. Lions defensive back called out his team's offence after Friday's loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, questioning their inability to get into field goal range late in the game when trailing by just two points.

He called a local radio station the next day to clear the air, but the outspoken veteran again fielded questions about his comments Monday where he stressed it was a mistake.

"I just hate that it came out that way. I've never been really affiliated with something like that, saying I'm pointing fingers," Banks said. "I'm an emotional player. I'm smart enough to know don't say that kind of thing, but it caught me in the moment. 95 per cent of the team didn't even hear the comment. I just don't want to blow it out of proportion. We're already losing."

Banks, who addressed his teammates in a meeting Sunday, said he meant to put the heat on the entire team rather than just the offence. The 0-4 Lions are still seeking their first win of the season. As a leader on the team, the Florida native felt he needed to speak out in these frustrating times.

"In my defence, if you look at it realistically, if the season is a bust, who's the first people to get looked at? It's not going to be the rookies. It's not going to be the young guys. It's going to be the veterans. And what category do I fall in? A veteran," he said. "So as a veteran, sometimes I might say things you may not like, but at the end of the day I tell people that. I didn't know why they blew it up. I was kind of wrong but I'm not dodging the questions. The timing probably wasn't right."

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay, who threw for 251 yards and one touchdown in Week 4, said he didn't think there was any ill-will behind Banks' remarks.

"Honestly, more than anything, it was just an observation," Lulay said. "We had a chance to put ourselves in the lead with less than a minute to play and we didn't do that. (Coach Wally Buono) had Korey address the team for a bit and Korey said to a tee, the way to make the team better is to make yourself better and we all understand that."

Geroy Simon, another Lions veteran, also backed his long-time teammate.

"I know Korey was emotional and said some things he wish he could probably take back, but I spoke to him about it and it's something that we nipped it in the bud," Simon said. "He would never point fingers or anything like that. We moved on and we'll try and get a win."